YMCA News & Updates

CPR Classes for employees

The following dates are open for staff CPR classes. CPR recertification does not require the online portion of the class. First time, or lapsed certifications do require the online portion to be completed prior to the in person portion. 

In person classes:  

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Thursday 9/30 @ 5-7pm- Clara Barton Room

Thursday 10/14 @5-7pm- Clara Barton Room

Thursday 10/28 @5-7pm- Clara Barton Room

Cost $50

Register in Daxko, at the Front Desk, or contact Jessica White to register. 

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Best of the Best

Starting today, you can nominate your favorite places in Winona for the Best of the Best recognition! Please consider nominating the YMCA for Best Fitness Center/Gym (though we all know the Y is so much MORE than gym!)

https://rvng.secondstreetapp.com/Winona-2021-Best-of-the-Best/

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Brew 'n Que Grilling Contest Tickets

Are you around this weekend? Get your tickets for the Best In Area Grilling Contest and enjoy samples from area restaurants. The YMCA is partnering with Nosh Scratch Kitchen - YUM! The tasting is Saturday, September 4 from 12-2pm at the Levee. Tickets are normally $10 but I am personally subsidizing them, so contact me before Friday if you want $5 tickets! 

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We are sad to say goodbye to two amazing team members. Leanne Pozanc has been a key part of our Child Watch team for over 18 years, and Chloe Wilkins has worked diligently to strengthen our Child Care program for the last four years. Both will be greatly missed! We also want to welcome Kitty Starzecki as our new Youth Development Coordinator! Kitty has a strong background in childcare and will oversee the Child Care and Child Watch programs. Becky Wisted will still be the familiar face that families know and love in Kids Corner, and will also be branching out to share her talents with additional departments. ​

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Winona County is beginning to see increased rates of Covid-19 in and around Winona County, which means public health is actively monitoring COVID-19 activity. If you are feeling ill, or showing symptoms of Covid-19, please contact your supervisor before you come to work. A new Covid-19 Newsletter put out by MN Department of Health is on the Covid-19 Info & Policies page. 

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There's a 76 second YMCA video about culture that I wanted to share. It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling to watch this and remember why we choose the Y every day. Some days are harder than others, but we are part of an organization that truly transforms lives and is a catalyst for good. https://vimeo.com/184866796/940eefac9e 

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$100 Employee Referral Bonus

We have AMAZING staff, and we assume that our amazing staff know other amazing people. If you refer someone who works for the Y for at least 90 days, you'll get a $100 referral bonus. We are hiring now! If you know someone who has a good work ethic, fun personality, and likes to clean, send them our way and you might end up with an extra $100 in 90 days. Job description is available on our website - https://www.winonaymca.org/employment 

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Towel Tracker is here! Please keep in mind that we are running a pilot program between the towel machine company and Daxko, our membership software. We'll need some time to work out the kinks.

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Member Survey- We launched a survey in the latest newsletter about program and Wellness Center equipment opportunities: https://conta.cc/3gQE2OJ  You can also see current and previous newsletters here: https://www.winonaymca.org/what-s-happening-at-the-y

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Unlimited Nutrition Café-Friendly reminder that the café in the lobby is NOT ours, with the exception of the self-serve coffee makers. Unlimited Nutrition rents the space from us, and their property is their property. Thank you for respecting their space. 

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Annual Campaign

The YMCA does not generate enough in membership and program revenue to support all its great work and its robust financial assistance program. The Annual Campaign is what keeps us afloat, and is especially important this year in light of the impact of COVID-19. We were closed for 1/3 of the year and yet were able to continue serving the community. There is an even greater need now for healthy living support, community, and financial assistance for Y memberships and programs. We have the opportunity to serve more people, expand our programming, and increase our financial assistance in our beautiful new facility, which has attracted nearly 2,500 new members since it opened in January! Your supervisor will provide a form to you that we would like each employee to complete. Please consider making a contribution to the Y that is meaningful to you.  

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NEW Staff Mask Policy (effective immediately)

Thank you for your patience as we've done our research. Following CDC and MDH guidance, the following mask policy changes have been made, effective immediately. 

• Staff must ALWAYS wear a mask when working with children indoors, and outdoors if within 6 ft of children (eg ropes course facilitation).

• Masks are strongly recommended for staff while working, except if staff have been fully vaccinated AND are more than 6 ft away from members and other staff (eg teaching fitness class, lifeguarding, camp or summer child care).

• If staff have been fully vaccinated and are working 1-on-1 with a member (eg personal training, nutrition coaching), please ask the client what their preference is regarding whether you are masked or unmasked.

• Staff  must always have a mask on or near them to put on on short notice if needed.

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Updated Covid-19 guidance and Vaccine Finder now available on the COVID-19 & Policies page!

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Employee Shout-Outs & Kudos

Help us give recognition to those who have gone above and beyond to make our YMCA a place for all. Please send words of praise, news of accomplishments for your YMCA colleagues to your supervisor, or to complete the feedback form below (may remain anonymous if you wish). 

Awesome job AquaFit Instructors! Hearing a lot of praise verbally and in emails about the class! From a member: "Please tell whoever needs to know….we love Aqua Fit!!"- Lora E.

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HUGE shout out to Elaina in Aquatics. Thanks to her willingness to try something new on a just a few minutes notice, and give instruction to the afternoon AquaFit class, we were able to prevent many sad members from a last minute class cancellation. Elaina did a great job leading the group and they were very thankful and appreciative! 

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Shout out to Member Services for their diligence in merging member accounts quickly and efficiently! Their hard work helps streamline the billing process and prevent account errors and confusion. Also a huge thank you to MS for their kindness and patience shown to members who were confused and or upset about the mask mandate/overturned mandate. Sometimes it's really hard being the messenger, but they've handled the ups and downs quite well!- Lisa E (& Kristen)

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Many thanks to Elise who handled multiple phone calls and helped with some problem solving to help a parent enroll a child into one of our fantastic programs. Thank you for helping us stay true to our values and mission of being inclusive and welcoming to all, and reducing a language barrier with your bilingual talent. - Lisa E

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Props to Matthew in Member Services for a pretty impressive member interaction.  A young man who did not speak English came to the Front Desk to get membership information and Matthew was able to navigate the conversation pretty efficiently using his Spanish skills. - Lisa E 

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Congratulations to Kate in Member Services on the promotion to Member Services Lead! Thank you for all the above and beyond you do to make our team succeed! - Lisa E

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I worked with Elise at the front desk briefly last week and she is a little blonde ball of energy, positivity, fun and friendliness! If a member comes in in a funk, she makes sure they leave with a smile. She greets people, laughs with people, and ensures that they have a great experience at the Y. I learned a lot just listening to how she interacts with members.- Janneke

DeeDee and Brian recently joined our custodial team. Several staff and members have shared with me that they appreciate how hard DeeDee and Brian are working to keep our beautiful new space in good condition. DeeDee is very friendly and approachable, and Brian has been doing a great job politely enforcing our policies :-) - Janneke
 

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CONGRATULATIONS to our 2021 graduates!

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Chloe Wilkins- After School Care Coordinator

Taylor Rajchel - Personal Trainer & Youth Sports Coach

Kenzie Meyerson - Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, and Youth Sports Coach

Hannah Amy - Summer Wellness Intern

Bryanna Peterson-Kids Corner 

Robert Morrissette -Kids Corner

Casen Fritz-Kids Corner

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Shout out to Ben The Bat-man Carver for his help in capturing an unmasked and freeloading flying creature and escorting it back to the outdoors, where it belongs, so it can live a full life of flying in darkness and feasting on mosquitoes! -Lisa E

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I'd like to give a shout out to Katie Mueller-Freitag. Katie stepped up big time today. She subbed a group fitness class on the fly and also completed an equipment orientation on the fly. Her willingness to help our members and keep classes going is very much appreciate. Thank you for all your hard work, Katie.- Jackie G

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A shout-out to my Member Services Rep Kate! Thank you for being so flexible and willing to help out covering shifts, even on your days off, or wonky split shifts! From the very first day that we opened in this awesome facility, you've been a Rockstar in helping out whenever is needed. You are so appreciated! -Lisa E

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I would like to give a shout out to Donielle Bennett. Donielle has stepped up and out of her comfort zone working hard to become a BODYPUMP instructor. Donielle, I am so proud of you and can't wait to take your BODYPUMP class.-Jackie G

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I'd like to give a shout out to Andrea Shearer. Andrea has stepped up quite a bit recently subbing several AquaFit classes and Active Older Adult classes. She has also offered to pick up Body Sculpt classes. Thank you for your willingness, Andrea!- Jackie G

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I want to give a personal shout out to Ella Otto (trainer), Amy Lydia McNally (nutrition coach), and Taylor Rajchel (trainer), who have collectively been working with me to build healthier habits. Thank you, ladies! -Janneke

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A big thank you to Ben Kimber who spent part of his Easter here at the Y making our windows sparkle and shine!-Janneke

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I want to send a huge thank you to Jackie Goyette for her generosity regarding a locker issue I had. I am very appreciative of her kindness! Thanks much Jackie!-Linda C (member)

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 I wanted to give a shout out to Jessica & Jackie today for being so helpful to the front desk in all the things that they have going on!! I really appreciated their attention to their programs. It's amazing how smoothly it went today with all the activity. - Grateful Steph

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A new member expressed her gratefulness for the YMCA today. She joined three days ago and has come each day and has already  had several positive interactions with staff. She specifically mentioned Matt in Member Services and Katie in Wellness. She is looking forward to meeting with Katie for a PT plan to get her on track, and she's confident that Katie will help her achieve her wellness goals. 

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A member who participated in the Annual Meeting Zoom call expressed her praise for Janneke and her leadership. She said it was very impressive how Janneke handled the meeting, and that she sees Janneke out and about doing many things around the building and that she is very impressed with the YMCA's leadership and CEO. 

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Facebook post in the Winona Moms group: My son who is 6 has a fear of the water but we are out on the river all summer so it's really important for him to have some swimming skills. Erin at the Y was soooo patient with him and had some really good ideas to push him a bit to help be more comfortable.

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"Many thanks, endless thanks almost to all the folks that run the Y’s engine. It feels a privilege to be a part and witness to the good will of everyone." - Lynn Carlson

Kayone Majerus expressed her appreciation and gratitude for that "wonderful lady who takes care of the pool." She shared that Jessica has helped her so much with the reservations and waitlists and she said Jessica even swapped her personal swim time to help Kayone out. 

A member came in wanting to tell a manager that she is very appreciative and impressed with the staff who has been cleaning today. She said it makes her feel more comfortable being here seeing that cleaning is being done so diligently. She sends lots of appreciation and thanks to the cleaning crew.